Shoe support



June' 1o, 1930.'. K. KILBURN E+ Al. 1,762,720

SHOE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l4 June 10, 1930. K KlLBURN El' AL 1,762,720

- v SHOE SUPPORT Filed Aug. '9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il Y I." nl' I g2 M141 m )Mk Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL KILBURN, OF BOSTON, AND THOMAS H. SEELY, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS vTO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JER- SEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SHOE ASUPPORT Application led August 9, 1928. Serial No. 298,606.

This invention relates to shoe supports for use in machines for operating on shoes.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the novel shoe support is shown as `rapplied to a machine for tensioning, wiping and tacking the upper materials of shoes. In certain operations upon shoes, such as that of ,pulling up the lining in the shank, locating the Wings of the counter in vproper relation and securing them to an insole, it has been customary to employ a machine such as the hand method lasting machine for tensioning, wiping and securing the upper materials, including the counter, to the insole after the linl5 ring and Wings of the counter have been located by a hand operation. For this purpose a last spindle Was provided adjacent to the machine and located at a convenient height for the operator to pull up the lining and locate the Win g of the counter at one side of the shoe either by his fingers or by the use of hand pincers. Then, While holding the parts 1n position with his fingers, the operator took the shoe trom the last spindle and presented it to the machine by Which the upper materials were pulled, Wiped in and secured to the insole at one side of the shoe. Next the operator respindled the shoe, pulled up the lining and located the counter Wing at the other 30 side of the shoe, and lthen presented that side of the shoe to the lasting machine. The operation of respindling the shoe for the hand operation on the second side of the shoe requires time and causes considerable incon` venience t'o the operator. The eifort of holding` the shoe up to the machine supported only by his hands is also aburden upon the operator.

Objects of this invention are to provide a ,shoe support Which Will not only firmly support the shoe for the proper location of the shoe parts by a hand operation such as that of 'pulling upthe lining and positioning the Wings of the counter, but Willthen be readily movable With the shoe While the shoe is being presented in the hands of the operator toa machine for lasting the positioned shoe parts, and Which Will assist the operator in upholding the shoe for theoperation of the machine.

Vith these objects in view, the illustrated shoe support comprises a last spindle which .is rigidly held in a convenient position to supyable and movable with the shoe in the presentation ofthe shoe for operation of the machine thereon to tension and secure the positioned parts. During the presentation of the shoe to the machine, the last spindle is freely movable in any direction necessary in order that the shoe may be properly presented to the machine. Preferably, and as illustrated, the last spindle is upheld by counter-balancing` means suiicient also to sustain the Weight of the shoe and last so that the effort of the operator in presenting the shoe to the machine is minimized.

In the illustrated machine, the last spindle is connected to the upper end ot a post which is mounted for swinging movement and for vertical bodily translational movement` The counterbalancing of the shoe and last is effected by a spring connected With the post in such a manner that the post has substantially a floating movement With suiiicient buoyancy to sustain the Weight of the shoe and last as Well as its own Weight. Adjacent to the machine a device is provided for holding the post fixed in a position convenient for hand operation on the shoe. Mechanism is provided Which acts automatically when the post is so located to hold the spindle rigid relatively to the post, so that the spindle is adapted to support a shoe for a hand operation. After the operator has drawn up the lining-in the shank to remove Wrinkles therefrom, for example by the use of hand pincers, and otherwise properly position the shoe parts adjacent to the counter Wing at one side of the shoe, he can, While holding the shoe in his hands, release the post from its holding device, whereupon the post and spindle Will follow the shoe as it is carried in his hands toward the machine. By this movementof the post the spindle is released for universal movement, so that the shoe is -ree'to fbe positioned in the desired relation to the lasting machine, which can be done with ease and facility since the spring re holding device, causing the spindle to be.

again automatically locked in position for holding the shoe for a similar hand operav tion on the opposite side ofthe shoe. ln presenting the shoe again tothe machine for operating on the second side of the shoe, the operator can either remove the vshoe from the spindle, leaving the spindle in position to receive the next shoe and present the shoe, sustained only by his hands, to the machine, or he can release the spindle and avail himself ot the counterbalancing spring to assist in holding the shoe up to the machine. In practice it is found that he usually prefers to do the latter, the advantage of having the shoe sustained by the spring beingmore than onset by the eXtra movement required in replacing the spindle in locked position after operating on the second side lof the shoe.

ln the drawings-- -1 Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in secrtion, of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in section, of parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, vpartly in section, ot' the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of parts shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly insection, of the post holding device shown in Figs. 1 and 3. y

The illustrated shoe support, by which the operator is enabled to spindle a shoe and last and operate thereon by hand to position the parts and then carry the shoe in his hands without removing it from the spindle to a machine for securing the shoe parts together, the weight of the shoe and last-being sustained by thespindle, comprises aA column 10 provided with ears 12 between which a member 14 is'secured by a pin 16 which passesY through the ears and the member. To prevent rotation of the member 14 on the pin 16, the member has an'arm 18 (Fig. 3) which is secured by a bolt 2O to a projection 22 from the column 10. The member 14 is provided with a boss 24 bored to receive a pin 26 held by a set screw 28 and also has a flange 30 in the periphery of which are notches 32-to receive one end 33 of a coiled torsion spring 34. The inner end of the coiled portion of the spring 34 is supported on a sleeve portion 36 projecting outwardly from the flange 30 and concentric with the pin 26, and the outer end of its coiled portion is supported by a similar inwardly projecting sleeve portion 38 on an arm 40 mounted for rotation on the pin 26.

` extending into the recess 46 in the path of the projection 50 and, by engagement' therewith, limiting clockwise turning movement or the arm'40. The member 14 has a depending arm 54 to be later referred to.

The lower end of a tubular post 60 is pivoted oruniversal movement to the arm 40. To this end, in the lower end of the post is fitted a plug 62 (Fig. 2) provided with depending ears 64 and fixed in the post by a screw 66. In the end or the arm 40 is mounted Y for rotation on an axis extending lengthwise ofthe arm a stem 68 of a yoke 7 O each branch of which is separately pivoted at 7 2 to one ot' 'j the ears 64 so that a rod 74 guided through a hole 76 inthe plug 62 may move endwise in ythe post beyond the pivots 72 where the post 60 and yoke 7 0 are pivoted together. rlhe stem 68 of the yoke 70 can turn in the arm 40 Vso that the post may swing toward and from the Columny 10 as well as sidewise ot the coln vumn on the pivots 72.

The tension of the spring 34 tends ot course to lift the arm 40 and post 60,.and the degree j of tension of the spring maybe varied by loosening the set screw 48 to release the col-` lar. 44 from the pin 26, turning the arni 40 clockwise tar enough to relieve the tension of the spring 84, then moving the spring endwise of the pin 26 to release its end 38 from the one of thenotches 32 with which it may be in engagement. rihe end 38 of the spring may then be veasily engaged with one or the other notches32,.according to the tension it isdesired shall be imparted to the spring, and the parts restored to normal position. erably the spring is put underSufiCient tension in the manner described tosustain the Weight of the post 60 and the parts connected therewith, together with a shoe and last supported by the post in a manner to be described. f

The post 60 passes upwardly through an opening in a table 82k which is secured to the column 10 in any suitable manner, for example, by a, band 84 (Fig. 3) extending about the columny and arranged' to be tightened thereon by a screw 86 passing through alug on the band and threaded into the table. The table may be supported at its endsk by rods 87 extending troni the table to the floor.

A member 88 (Fig. 5) engages the under side of the table at each side vor the opening and at the rear side of the opening is provided with a groove or rabbet 90 to receiver a rib 92 formed on the table and entendi-ng Prefat right angles to the fore and aft median plane of the machine column. The member 88 :has a bail-shaped portion 94 surrounding the post and limiting its swinging movement on the pivots 68 and 72 by which it is connected to the arm 40. On the upper side of Vthe table at the left side (Fig. 1) of the fore and aft median plane of the column is e. forked holding device 100 which is secured to 10 the member 88 by screws 102 which serve to clamp the member 88 and the forked holding device 100 to the table at each side of the opening. Forks 104 of the holding device 100 are inclined upwardly and toward the column and are spaced apart to receive the post 60 between them. At the lower end of the forks 104 a seat 106 is provided to receive the beveled upper end of a collar 108 adjustably secured to the post 60 by a clamp- 10 ing screw 110.

rllhe lower edges of the seat 106 and the opposed edges of the forks 104 are arranged to overhang the bevel on the upper end of the collar 108 so that when the post is depressed and swung to one side, toward the left in Fig. 1, the collar 108 will engage the forks and be guided in its seat 106. From Fig. 5 it will be seen that the seat 106 is somewhat offset forwardly at 111 with reso spect to the space between the forks 104, the

purpose of which will later appear.

In the upper end of the post 60 (Figs. 2 and 4) is fitted a 'headed plug 112 which is bored at 114 to receive the rod 74 and counterbored at 116 to receive an enlarged upper end 118 of the rod. ln the headed portion of the plug 112 is a spherical recess 120 (Fig. 4) to receive the ball-shaped lower end 122 of a last spindle 124 which is held in the recess 120 by 4o a cap piece 126 threaded on a reduced portion of the head of the plug 112. The cap 126 has a bell-mouthed hole through which the spindle 124 extends and which is suiiiciently large to permit tipping of the spindle in any direcu i5 tion. Axial turning of the spindle is prevented by a lug 128 on the ball 122 which engages a slot 130 in the head portion of the plug 112.

In the ball 122 of the spindle 124 is a conical recess 132 the axis of which is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, said recess being adapted to receive at times a similar conical formation 134 on the enlarged upper end 118 of the rod 74. The counterbore 116 which receives the enlarged end 118 of the rod 74 is deep enough, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the rod to descend to a position in which the conical end 134 is outside of the recess 132 in the ball 122, so that the spindle is free to tip in any direction.

lvVhe/n the post 60 is swung to the left into the forked holding device 100, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the rod 74 is engaged by a fixed abutment 136 which lifts `the rod as '$5 the post `is-depressed and forces the conical upper end 134 of the rod into the recess 132 of the spindle, the angle between the axis of the recess 132 and the longitudinal axis of the spindle being such that the spindle is then vertical and is rigidly held in that position.

The abutment 136 consists of a plate thin enough to pai-s between the ears 64 of the plug y62 and adjustably secured by screws 140 to the rigid arm 54 of the member 14. ln order that the height of the spindle 124 may be adjusted to suit different operators, the screws 140 may be placed in different holes in the abutment 136 and the collar 108 adjusted up or down, as required, to cause the last spindle to be held rigidly when the collar is in its seat in the forked holding device 100. When the spindle is locked the abutment 136 of course sustains the spindle and post against depression.

With the spindle in fixed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the operator utilizes it to hold a shoe and last in position for a hand operation such as that of pulling up the lining at the shank of the shoe and locating the wing of the counter at one side of thc slice. For this purpose,hand pincers are frequently used to grasp the lining on the side of the shoe away from the operator, and the leverage of the pincers is such that during this operation the post tends to move toward the operator and toward the operators right. Hence the forward offset 111 of the seat 106 with respect to the space between the forks 104 prevents the post from slipping to the right between the forks 104. After the shoe upper materials, including` the lining and the wing of the counter, have been properly located at one side of the shoe, the operator, while holding the shoe in his hands, presses on the shoe rearwardly and toward the right to swing the post 60 toward the column 10. The collar 108 is thus released from its seat 106 and the spring 34 acts to lift the post and spindle toward the operating instrumentalities of the machine. As the post 60 rises, it moves away from the abutment 136, permitting the rod 74 to drop and release its cone-shaped end 134 from the conical recess in the spindle, so that as the work approaches the machine the spindle is free to tip in any direction, thus permitting the operator to present the workin any position desired to the machine. rlhe lug 128 which prevents axial turning of the spindle insures that when the spindle is again locked by the cone 134 on the rod 7 4 it will be in a vertical position.

rl`he illustrated machine for tensioning, wiping and tacking the upper materials is similar to the hand method machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 584,7 44

In the op- I eration of the machine, a. gripper 154C seizes and tensions the upper materials upwardly and inwardly of the last, a wiper 156 moves horizontally to wipe the margins of the tensioned materials over upon the insole, anda tack driver 158 is operated to insert a tack to hold the upper in lasted position.

After the operator has lasted the upper materials adjacent to the wings oil thecounter at one side of the shoe by operation of the machine through one or two cycles, he depresses the shoe and moves it laterally to cause the collar 108 to engage the forked holding device 100, thereby causing the spindle to be locked in a vertical position, turns the shoe around on the spindle, and operates on the lining at the opposite side of the shoe to remove the wrinkles and to locate it and the counter wing in proper position. He then frees the collar from the holding device and presents the second side oit' the shoe to the machine for the lasting operation. Gf course, in presenting the second side of a shoe to the machine, the operator may, it he wishes, remove the slice from the spindle and present it to the machine sustained only in his hands, the spindle then being in position to receive the next shoe. ln practice, however, it is found that the advantage of having the weight of the shoe and last sustained by the spindle during operation of the machine thereon is very substantial and hence the operator will prefer to release the spindle and allow it to sustain the shoe and last during the lasting operation on the second side of the shoe, thereafter, of course, restoring the spindle to its liXed position before removing the shoe therefrom.v

Having described'our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent or" the United States is:

l. ln a shoe support, a last spindle constructed and arranged to move freely with a shoe and last when the shoe is presented for operation of a machine thereon and to permit movement of the shoe in any direction for such presentation, and means acting when the shoe and last are placed in a position convenient for hand operation on a shoe for rendering the spindle inmovable in directions in which Vit tends to move during that operation.

2.111 a shoe support, a movable post, a last spindle mounted on the post for tipping Vmovement relatively thereto, and means acting to hold the spindle rigid with the post when the post is in a position convenient for hand operation on the shoe and to release the spindle for tipping movement when the post is in a position for machine operation.

ln a shoe support, the combination of a movable post, a last spindle mounted on said post for tipping movement relatively thereto, and means for holding the last spindle rigid in one position of the post and for ijreaveo releasing the spindle for tipping movement when the post is moved to another position.v

4. ln a shoe support, the combination of a post mounted to swing'and to move bodily, a last spindle mountedon tliepost for universal movement, means for holding the post in one position, and means `acting when the postpis in that position for holding the last spindle against movement, said means acting, when the post is released and moved bodily, to release the last spindle for universal movement.

5. A shoe support comprising a last spindle constructed and arranged for movement with a shoe vthereon in any direction for presentation to a machine, and means acting when the spindle is moved to a predetermined position to render the spindle rigid against movementto adapt the spindle for use in a hand operation on the shoe.r K

6. ln a shoe support, thecombination of a post arranged for swinging and for translational movement, a last spindle on the post, means for counteracting the weight of the post, last spindle and a shoe carried thereby,

and meansi'or holding the post in depressed Y position, the post being releasable' from said means by a swinging movement thereof.

7. In a shoe support, the combination of a last spindle, means for supporting the last spindle and `upon which the said spindle is mounted for universal movement, said supporting means being movable from a first position convenient for hand operation on the shoe to a second position for machine operation on the shoe, means for holding the supporting means in the first position, and means acting automatically when the supporting means is in that position to hold the last spin. dle against universal movement, said Vmeans being automatically released when the supporting means is moved to the second position.

8. A shoe support comprising a last spindle a supporting post for the last spindle, said post being mounted for swinging movement and 'for bodily movement, means for holding the spindle andthe post as a rigid uni-t when they are in a position adapted for hand operation on the shoe, andmeans acting when the spindle and post are released Jfrom Lil their holding means to permitk relative pivotal movement between the spindle and the post so that they can becarried toward the machine for operation of the machine on the shoe and the shoe may be freely positioned for that operation. Y

9. ln a shoe support, the combination of a supporting post mounted for swinging movement and for bodily heightwise movement, a last spindle pivoted (to the post, counterbalancing means for the post and spindle, adapted also to raise the shoe and last with the post and spindle, and means i for holding the post and spindle rigid when the post is placed in a lowered position, the

last spindle and shoe thereon being movable in any direction when moved away from that position.

10. In a shoe support, the combination of a post arranged for swinging movement and for translational heightwise movement, a last spindle mounted on the post for universal movement, a spring for sustaining the weight of the postand of a shoe and last supported thereon, readily releasable means for holding the post in depressed position, and means acting only when the post is so held for holding the last spindle from movement relativelyY to the post.

1l. In a shoe support, the combina-tion of a post arranged for swinging and upward floating movement with sufficient buoyancy to sustain the shoe and last, a last spindle having a, ball and socket connection to the upper end of the post, a forked member for receiving the post to hold it depressed, and means acting automatically when the post is held in said forked member to render the spindle rigid with the post.

12. In a shoe support, the combination of a last spindle, a supporting post for the spindle, said spindle having universal tipping movement with respect to said post, said post being mounted for movement in any direction, means for holding the spindle and the postas a rigid unit when they are in position adapted for hand operation on a shoe, and means acting when the spindle and post are released from said holding means and moved toward a machine for operation thereof on the shoe to permit relative tipping movement between the spindle and the post so that the shoe can be carried toward the machine and freely positioned for its operation.

13. In a shoe support, the combination of an arm mounted for movement in a vertical plane, a post connected to said arm for universal movement, a last spindle mounted on the post for universal tipping movement, a spring acting on said arm for sustaining the weight of the post and of a shoe and last supported thereon, readily releasable means for holding the post in depressed position and against lateral movement, and means acting only when the post is so'held for preventing movement of the last spindle relatively to the post and for sustaining the post against depression.

14. In a shoe support, the combination of a post arranged for swinging and upward floating movement with sufficient buoyancy to sustain a shoe and last, said post having an enlargement, a last spindle connected to the upper end of the post for universal movement, a forked holding device for receiving the post and for engaging said enlargement to hold it depressed, and means acting automatically when the post is held in said holding device to render the spindle rigid with the post and to sustain the post.

l5. Ina shoe support, the combination of an arm pivoted for movement in a vertical plane, a hollow post pivoted to the arm for swinging movement, a last spindle connected by a ball and socket joint to said post and having vin its ball portion a conical recess, a rod Aextending through the post and having a'conical upper end to engage said recess, a collar on the post, a forked holding device rigidlymounted to receive said post and engaging said collar, andan abutment arranged to engage the lower end of the rod and force its conical end into the recess when the post is in said forked holding device.

16. In a shoe support, the combination of a pos-t constructed and arranged for vertical and swinging movement, a collar on the post, a fixed device for holding the post, said device comprising a portion formed with a seat for the collar and with inclined surfaces to guide the collar into said seat, said seat being laterally offset with respect -to said inclined surfaces, a spindle pivoted to said post, and means acting when the collar is in its seat for preventing movement of the spindle relatively to the post and for sustaining the post against depression.

17. In a shoe support, a last spindle` a spindle supporting post mounted for universal swinging movement and for heightwise bodily movement, a collar on the post, and a fixed member having a circular seat with a lateral opening for admission of the post with which seat the collar may be engaged by depression and lateral swinging movement of the post, said opening being offset rearwardly of the center of said seat so that the collar will remain in its seat during outward and lateral stresses on the post due to pincer pulling operations on the shoe materials at the rear side of a shoe supported on the spindle, said collar being releasable from its seat by rearward and lateral pressure on the post.

18. In a shoe support, the combination of an arm pivoted for movement in a vertical plane, a hollow post pivoted to the arm for swinging movement, a last pin connected by a ball and socket joint to said post and having in its ball portion a conical recess, a rod extending through the post and having a conical upper end to engage said recess, a collar on the post, a holding device rigidly mounted to receive the post, said device having upwardly and inwardly inclined forks and a seat for the collar, said seat being forwardly offset with respect to the forks, the forks being adapted to engage the collar -to depress the collar and guide it into its seat, the offset of the seat preventing movement of the collar out of said seat when outward and lateral pressure is applied to the post, and an abutment arranged to engage the lower end of the rod and force its l'lO conical end into the recess of the spindle when Jche post is in said holding device.

In testimony whereof I, the said KARL KILBURN, have signed my name to this specification.

KARL KILBURN. In testimony whereof I, the said THOMAS H. SEnLY, have signed my name to this Y specification.

*i0 THOMAS H. sEELY. 

